Bag opening device



Aug. 25, 1964 w. A. HELBIG 3,145,858

BAG OPENING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. Walter A. Helbig 9 g Q. smm

Aug. 25, 1964 w. A. HELBIG 3,145,858

BAG OPENING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Walter A. Helbig 'SWA Q. M

United States Patent ()filice 3,145,858 PatentedAug. 25, 1964 Filed Oct. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 231,248

' 3 Claims. (Cl. 2143ll5) The present invention relates to a bag opening device and more particularly to a device adapted to open a bag and facilitate emptying the contents of the bag.

The bag opening device of the present invention provides a simple and effective means of quickly and ciliciently opening and emptying bagged materials with both a minimum of dusting and a minimum of effort on the operators part.

The bag opening device of the present invention comprises a compartment and a knife member positioned in the compartment with a cutting edge facing upward. A bag support means is positioned above the cutting edge of the knife member. The bag support means has two positions: a first position wherein the support means will support a bag in the compartment and in a position over the knife, and a second position wherein the bag support means will not support a bag in the compartment. A means is provided which allows the bag support means to move from one position to the other. An inverted V knife blade provides a cutting edge particularly suited to use in the present invention. The knife edge may suitably be serrated. The present bag opening device may comprise a closed compartment and suitably may include a closed arm entryway opening into the compartment. By inserting his arm or arms intothe entryway, an operator outside the device may have manual access to the interior of the closed compartment. The present device may be equipped with a door opening from the compartment and positioned so an operator reaching into the device through the arm entryway may grip a bag which is impaled on the cutting edge of the knife member, shake the bag to insure emptying of the bag contents, and remove the bag from the device by pushing it through the bag removal door opening through the side of the compartment.

The present invention will now be described and illustrated by way of an example shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bag opening device embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view partly in section of a bag opening device similar to that of FIGURE 1 showing the internal arrangement of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a device similar to that of FIGURE 1 showing in detail a latch means which allows the bag support means to move from a first position wherein the bag support means will support a bag over the knife member to a second position wherein it will not support a bag over the knife member.

In the drawings corresponding numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the different views.

Referring now in detail to FIGURE 1, the device is shown mounted on a platform 1 which may be the top of a hopper or a storage area adapted to receive bulk material. The device consists of a compartment 9 having a receiving lid 19 providing a means of topside access to the compartment. Preferably lid 19 is hingedly attached to the top of one wall of the compartment and is provided with latches such as 20 which are adapted to hold lid 19 in close contact with the tops of the sidewalls of the compartment. A pair of arm entryways 13 enter side wall 3. A closed chute 17 adapted to facilitate dust-free removal of empty bags is positioned in the side of the device opposite entryways 13. Suitably the closed chute 17 may be connected with a closed portable receptacle (not shown) to remove the empty bags-from the area in a dustfree manner. FIGURE 2 shows the device of FIGURE 1 partly in section. A screened feed passageway 5 is positioned through the bottom of the device and through the top of the platform 1. A knife blade 7 in the form of an inverted V is positioned over screened passageway 5. Knife 7 is encased in compartment 9. Compartment 9 has a bag support means in the form of a half floor 11. Half floor 11 is hinged along one edge to the inside of compartment 9 and is equipped with a latch (shown in FIGURE 3), which allows the half floor to pivot to a position fiat against an inside wall of compartment 9. As shown in the drawing, compartment 9 has a closed arm entryway 13 allowing manual entry into the compartment without exposing the contents of the compartment to the outside. Preferably entryways 3 are impermeable to dust and may suitably be fabricated of heavy cloth, rubber or plastic. Entryways 13 are equipped with sleeve members 14- extending into the compartment and terminate in glove member 16. Preferably glove members 16 do not extend a sufficient distance into compartment 9 to allow contact with knife member 7. Compartment 9 has a bag removal door 15 positioned in the chamber wall opposite arm entryways 13. Bag removal door 15 is hinged along its upper edge and is positioned to open outward from compartment 9 into an empty bag chute 17. Preferably chute 17 is covered to prevent dusting. Compartment 9 has a receiving lid 19 opening outwardly from the top of the compartment. Lid 19 facilitates manual placement of a bag within the device and if desired, may be equipped with one or more latch members 20 to insure a tight fit with compartment 9 and thereby prevent dust from escaping from the compartment during the bag emptying operation. Preferably lid 19 is gasketed along the portion that contacts compartment 9 to facilitate a sealing surface. As shown in FIG- URE 2, compartment 9 may also have a suction line 21 entering therein to aid in maintaining a low dust level within the compartment.

FIGURE 3 shows a full bag 23 positioned on its side on half floor 11 over knife 7. Latch 25 holds half floor 11 in an extended position supporting bag 23. The operator trips latch 25 suitably by pulling handle 26. This action allows movement of half floor 11 which in turn allows bag 23 to drop and become impaled on knife 7. The weight of bag 23 against knife 7 slits the side of the bag and allows the contents to flow by gravity through screened passageway 5. After the bag has dropped, the operator with his arms extending into chamber 9 through arm entryways 13 (shown in FIGURES 1 and 2), grasps bag 23 and shakes it until his weight sense indicates the bag is empty. While continuing to reach through entryways 13, the operator then pushes the empty bag through door 15 into the closed bag disposal chute 17. Door 15 is then allowed to close, the half floor 11 is placed in an extended position and latched. The operator then removes his arms from entryways 13 and opens the top of compartment 9 (which is under continuous suction) and places the next bag to be emptied on half floor 11.

The present device is adapted for use in any feeding operation wherein a dust or powder, such as flour, powdered milk, cocoa, powdered carbon, powdered insecticides or cement, is supplied in bagged form and is fed into a system in bulk form.

What is claimed is:

1. A bag opening device comprising a closed compartment a knife member having a cutting edge positioned in said compartment with said cutting edge facing upward,

a bag support means positioned in said compartment,

said bag support means having a first position wherein said support means will support a bag in said compartment positioned over said knife, and a second position wherein said bag support means will not support a bag in said compartment,

a latch means to allow said bag support means to move from said first position to the said second position, said compartment having at least one closed arm entryway therein,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,059,540 Irick Apr. 22, 1913 2,306,426 Bundy Dec. 29, 1942 2,720,698 Coffman Oct. 18, 1955 2,753,062 Loudon July 3, 1956 3,051,163 Trexler Aug. 28, 1962 3,078,008 MacDonald Feb. 19, 1963 OTHER REFERENCES German Printed Application 1,093,297, Nov. 17, 1960 (H 36883 XI/81e). 

1. A BAG OPENING DEVICE COMPRISING A CLOSED COMPARTMENT A KNIFE MEMBER HAVING A CUTTING EDGE POSITIONED IN SAID COMPARTMENT WITH SAID CUTTING EDGE FACING UPWARD, A BAG SUPPORT MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID COMPLACEMENT, SAID BAG SUPPORT MEANS HAVING A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID SUPPORT MEANS WILL SUPPORT A BAG IN SAID COMPARTMENT POSITIONED OVER SAID KNIFE, AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID BAG SUPPORT MEANS WILL NOT SUPPORT A BAG IN SAID COMPARTMENT, A LATCH MEANS TO ALLOW SAID BAG SUPPORT MEANS TO MOVE FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO THE SAID SECOND POSITION, SAID COMPARTMENT HAVING AT LEAST ONE CLOSED ARM ENTRYWAY THEREIN, SAID ENTRYWAY GIVING MANUAL ACCESS TO THE INSIDE OF SAID CLOSED COMPARTMENT. 